FAQ for Residential

Q. How long does it take to pay off the investment in my solar electric system?
A. It only takes about 4 to 8 years once the Philippine Government approved the REC (RA-9513).

Q: What is involved in a typical solar panel installation?
A: Solar electric installations are quite simple – the panels are mounted on the roof or in the yard and connected to an inverter mounted near the main panel in the house, which converts DC to AC.

Q: How long does it take to get solar?
A: The actual installation is quick, a few days usually. The process, including the state rebate process, takes a bit longer. But don’t worry, we will handle most of the work, and keep you apprised of the timing every step of the way. We will agree on a specific timetable for your project with you.

Q: How can I tell if solar will work on my house?
A: For the best results, the panels should have little to no shade on them during the hours of 9 AM to 3 PM throughout the year. During our visit to your site, we will conduct a “shade reading” to determine the amount of shade present at your location for the entire year.

Q: How much space do I need on my roof to install solar panels?
A: A typical residential solar electric system can be installed in about 100 to 500 square feet of roof space.

Q: Does the angle of my roof matter?
A: A “pitch” of 25-45% is ideal but other roofs can work too.

Q: How do I know what size system I need?
A: Our design team will figure that out for you. But as a general guideline—a typical residential solar electric system is between 1000 and 5000 watts and will produce between 1000 and 6000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year.

Q: How much money can I save by installing a solar electric system?
A: Producing your own clean electricity with solar power will reduce your annual electrical bill by about P200 to P10,000 the first year. You should see savings from P10,000 to P50,000 or more over the next 25 years depending on your solar system and usage.

Q: What are RECs and how do they work?
A: Think of an REC (Renewable Energy Certificate – RA9513) as a unit of value for the “green-ness” of the solar energy you produce. As part of an ambitious renewable energy development program in Philippines, the state has set targets for solar and other green energy technologies. What this means to you is that you can sell the value of the solar energy you produce in a market created specifically for RECs. So in addition to reducing your electric bill, your solar electric system can generate several thousands of pesos in tax-free income each year for ten years.

Q: How long do solar electric systems last?
A: Solar electric systems are designed to last more than 20 years, and most systems will still be producing power in 30-50 years. We only offer the best Solar PV panels that come with up to 25-year warranty.

Q: Besides installation costs, what other costs might there be with a solar electric system?
A: The price we quote you covers all aspects of designing and installing your system. However, if your main breaker panel is not large enough to accommodate the addition of solar or if the wiring is old, you may need to have your wiring updated. Additionally, if your roof has less than 10 years of life left, we recommend replacing it before you have the solar electric system installed. Because a solar system will be in place more than 25 years, it is best to start with a roof that has plenty of life left.

Q: Will I have electricity during a power outage?
A: No. With a straight grid-tied system without batteries, even on a sunny day when your solar array is producing power, you will not have power in the home if the utility experiences a power outage. This is to protect the linemen working on the utility grid. If you absolutely need power during an outage, your system must have batteries. This adds cost and complexity to the installation but can be done, and we do offer this service.

Q: Will I be helping the environment if I install a solar electric system on my home?
A: ABSOLUTELY! You will be using less fossil fuel each and every day and producing your own non-polluting power.